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K-State prepares for Oklahoma ground game

Kansas State kicker Jack Cantele, second from right, won Big 12 special teams co-player of the week Monday.

MANHATTAN — It’s not the old Oklahoma wishbone offense, but the Sooners are showing a strong propensity for running the ball.

Oklahoma is coming off a 405-yard rushing performance against Iowa State, putting Kansas State’s defense on alert when the No. 22 Sooners come to Snyder Family Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday.

“They rushed for well over 300 yards in the second half and for only 66 in the first half,” K-State coach Bill Snyder said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference. “They got some big plays in the running game, some long-distance plays with their quarterback and running backs, and that’s against a very good Iowa State defensive football team.

“They’ve got an experienced offensive line with all returning starters and upperclassmen. They just play to their strengths and that’s why they do what they do extremely well.”

The Sooners have options, both at running back and quarterback. Damien Williams picked up 128 yards against Iowa State and quarterback Trevor Knight, who took over for the injured Blake Bell, ran for 123 yards.

For the season, Brennan Clay and Williams average 64.3 and 61.4 yards, respectively, while Knight averages 61.8 yards.

“I think they have a package and play to their personnel,” Snyder said. “They have two quarterbacks who can run the ball pretty well, the option read-type stuff which has become a little bit more prolific in their offense.

“They’ve got a stable of backs that run the ball extremely well. It’s not anything different, just a matter of how much emphasis they put on things.”

DOUBLE TAKE — The K-State coaches took notice of the duplicate numbers TCU had on the field on a Wildcat fourth-quarter punt last Saturday and alerted the officials, resulting in an illegal equipment penalty.

Trevone Boykin was back to field the punt but defensive player Jason Verrett also was on the field and both wear No. 2.

“I think our coaches upstairs recognized that and shared the information with the sideline, and we provided the information to the officials,” Snyder said. “But the officials were in the process of discussing it at the time so they were, I think, on top of it as well.”

Mark Krause’s punt was downed on the TCU 2, but after the 5-yard penalty K-State had fourth-and-1 at the 34 and picked up a first down, moving on for a field goal in the 33-31 victory.

K-State has many duplicate numbers, but there are safeguards in place to prevent a similar situation, Snyder said.

CANTELE COLLECTS AWARD — Jack Cantele was named Big 12 special teams co-player of the week after going 4-for-4 on field goals against TCU, including the 41-yard game-winner with three seconds remaining.

Cantele shared the honor with Oklahoma punt returner Jalen Saunders.

EARLY START — The Wildcats’ final regular-season game at Kansas on Nov. 30 will kick off at 11 a.m. and will be televised on FOX Sports 1.